Explainer

Why do Shiites flagellate themselves on Ashura?

Why do Shiites flagellate themselves on Ashura?

On Saturday night, hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world will mark Ashura, the tenth day of the first month in the Islamic calendar. During this period, Shiite communities globally hold mourning rituals, some involving self-flagellation that leads to bleeding. According to Shiite belief, these are acts of mourning for the death of Husayn, the son of Caliph Ali, and his followers, who were massacred at the Battle of Karbala. Despite objections from Ayatollahs Ali Khamenei and Ruhollah Khomeini, the rituals continue to this day.

What we know about the historic US Iran strike

What we know about the historic US Iran strike

The International Atomic Energy Agency assessed that the centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility were already out of operation before the US bombing. According to three senior Iranian officials, the attack occurred at 2:30 a.m. local time. The most complex target was Isfahan, where uranium was being processed into weapons-grade material. It remains unclear whether Iran managed to move the nuclear fuel from the site before the strike.

How the UN is paving an 'irreversible path' to a Palestinian state

How the UN is paving an 'irreversible path' to a Palestinian state

The director of a UN-affiliated advisory organization reveals: The concluding document of the upcoming two-state conference is expected to include a commitment to an “unconditional and irreversible path” toward a Palestinian state. According to her, invitations were extended solely to entities aligned with a predetermined outcome. While a state can only be established through a UN Security Council resolution, one that will not pass due to a US veto, there are still diplomatic implications.